President Xi Jinping declared on Tuesday that “no force” can shake the Chinese nation as he oversaw a massive military celebration of 70 years of Communist Party rule, shadowed by a day of protest in seething Hong Kong that threatened to steal the spotlight.
Standing on the Tiananmen Rostrum where Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Mr Xi extolled the “Chinese dream” of national rejuvenation – his grand vision of restoring the country to perceived past glory.
“There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation,” Mr Xi said, standing alongside party leaders in Tiananmen Square.
“No force that can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead,” he said before riding in an open-roof car to review troops.
As he rode past, Mr Xi bellowed; “Hello comrades, hard-working comrades!”
The massed ranks of soldiers shouted back: “Follow the Party! Fight to win! Forge exemplary conduct!”
Even as Mr Xi spoke, Hong Kong was in lockdown, with barricades in the city centre, shuttered stores and a heavy riot police presence.
Returning to the stage, Mr Xi reviewed groups of service men and women marching past and lines of tanks, drones and missiles.
Among the weapons on display were DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles, the backbone of China’s nuclear deterrence capability, which can carry several nuclear warheads and reach as far as the United States.
A symbolic 70-gun salute was fired at the square and the red national flag was raised to begin festivities held under tight security, with road closures and even a ban on flying kites.
But behind the festivities, a clutch of challenges tests Mr Xi’s ability to maintain economic and political stability.
US trade war negotiations have dragged on, and African swine fever has raced through the country’s pig supply, sending pork prices soaring.
But the major headache is Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protesters hit the streets early in a bid to grab the spotlight from Beijing, with a series of rallies against what they see as the erosion of their special freedoms.
Hong Kong police said they were expecting violence across the city, warning it could be “very, very dangerous”, while masked protesters said that “in the face of tyranny, we can only fight as if our last battle”.
Officers fanned out across the territory and small pockets of demonstrators marched through the streets for what they dubbed a “Day of Grief”, while local officials watched a flag-raising ceremony behind closed doors.
Police used pepper spray to break up a brief scuffle between Beijing supporters and a small group of pro-democracy protesters.
The semi-autonomous city has been embroiled for months in the worst unrest since Britain returned it to China in 1997, with police and hardcore protesters trading tear gas and petrol bombs.
Mr Xi vowed on Monday to continue to “fully and faithfully implement” the one country, two systems policy under which Hong Kongers enjoy freedoms unseen on the mainland.
Access to the Beijing parade was restricted with police turning away crowds lining up with flags in the hope of seeing a glimpse of the military procession.
The military show of force will be followed by a pageant involving 100,000 civilians and 70 floats depicting China’s greatest achievements. Organisers will release 70,000 doves and 70,000 balloons before an evening performance and fireworks in Tiananmen.
Authorities usually close factories to ensure blue skies during major events, but unhealthy smog covered the Chinese capital on Tuesday.